Komodo Dragons 5

After a two hour ride by many islands, we finally arrived at Rincah Island.  This is one of two islands in the Komodo National Park on which lives the largest lizard in the world. These islands are a world heritage site, and are carefully managed by the park service. We registered at their office and paid our entry fee. A ranger then gave us a short talk before taking us on a hike to see the large dragons. The only defence provided by the park service to fend off these ferocious beasts was a staff with a y at the end carried by the ranger and one other trained guide.  Apparently, one person who had been working by himself back in 1974 had been devoured by one of the lizards. Their mouths carry a deadly bacteria.   They ambush their prey, bite into it, and track the prey as it is ravaged by the bacteria. Their usual prey is deer, buffalo and wild pig which are endemic to these islands. We saw deer and buffalo and wild pig on our hike. The Komodo dragons on Rincah Island are not as large as the ones on Komodo Island because they have less prey on this island.

We left this island to snorkel off  a small island.  The coral was healthy waved its tentacles in the water.  The fish were plentiful and beautiful colors. That was a magnificent sight.  After our snorkel, we spent another hour or more as we journeyed to the captain's home on Komodo Island.

The village is quite large.  There are over one hundred children in school with 14 teachers on staff and one headmaster. We came ashore and were shown to our rooms in the captain's home.  Next on the itinerary was a short boat ride to see the flying foxes (big bats) leave the trees that they hang in during the day.  These are the same bats that were for sale as food in the cages shown in earlier pictures. The trees were covered in bats turning green trees into brown trees. As dusk approached two fellows were sent to roust them and make them fly. They had little success.  As it got darker, we left; and on our trip back, many of the flying foxes were seen soaring overhead as the light faded into night.

The captain's wife provided a hardy supper composed of local foods.  We found it very tasty, and some of us had to have a second helping. We slept on mattresses on the floor, a step up from bamboo mats we had slept on at the other traditional village.